Comelec has not received any request from Marcos asking to stop unofficial count by its citizens arm

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that it has not received any appeal from vice presidential candidate Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to stop the quick count being conducted by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

“We have not received any formal request (from Marcos),” said Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista.

With this, the poll body chief urged the lawmaker to file his request to Congress, where the votes for the presidential and vice presidential posts will be canvassed.

The House of Representatives and Senate will be sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBoC).

“Maybe he can address his formal request to Congress because the Comelec only canvass the votes for senators and party-lists,” Bautista added.

Commissioner Rowena Guanzon echoed Bautista’s statement and challenged Marcos to submit evidence that would prove his claims that there were irregularities in the said count sourced from the Transparency Server, where PPCRV is getting the figures.

She noted that under the law, the quick count being conducted by their citizens’ arm is allowed by law.

“It is allowed by R.A. 8436 (poll automation law) that a quick count is conducted even as the official canvassing of the votes has started,” Guanzon said.

She added, “The public has the right to be informed regarding the status of the elections. We have to be transparent to the people on the status of the elections.”